At the larger Bushey cemetery in Hertfordshire, the extension scheme is likely to cost in excess of £1 million. Mr Hartog estimates that it will be completed in two years.
"The work at Waltham Abbey started six weeks ago to get the new area properly prepared, putting in drainage, roadways and pathways," he said.
Waltham Abbey has between 25,000 and 30,000 graves and has around 300 burials every year. The new 10-acre area "will ensure that the cemetery will be in use for the next 40 years or more."
Similar longevity is envisioned for Bushey, where there are 40,000 graves and 700 burials annually.